Twitch Channel Point Guide

Understanding Channel Points

Imagine creating a virtual currency that rewards your viewers simply for being part of your community. That’s exactly what Twitch Channel Points accomplish. This customisable points system enables streamers to reward their community members with special perks and experiences that previously might have been reserved only for subscribers. Available to all Twitch Partners and Affiliates, Channel Points create a new dimension of engagement between you and your viewers.

What makes Channel Points particularly powerful is that viewers earn them naturally through their existing behaviours—watching your stream, following your channel, participating in raids, and other forms of engagement. The points accumulate automatically when viewers are logged in and watching, with more support translating directly into more points earned. Importantly, these points are specific to your channel, creating a closed economy within your community.

Why Channel Points Matter for Your Stream

Channel Points solve a fundamental challenge that many streamers face: how to recognise and reward non-monetary support from your community. Not every viewer can afford to subscribe, but many dedicate significant time and energy to supporting your channel through their presence and participation. Channel Points acknowledge this valuable contribution.

For your viewers, Channel Points transform passive watching into active participation. They create anticipation, encouraging viewers to return to your streams to accumulate more points and unlock new rewards. This system deepens the connection between you and your audience by creating shared experiences unique to your community.

Setting Up Channel Points

Let’s walk through the process of setting up Channel Points for your channel:

1. First, ensure you have achieved either Affiliate or Partner status on Twitch, as Channel Points are available exclusively to these account types.

2. Navigate to your Creator Dashboard by clicking on your profile picture in the top-right corner of Twitch and selecting “Creator Dashboard” from the dropdown menu.

3. Once in the Dashboard, locate the hamburger menu icon in the top left-hand corner and click to expand the navigation menu.

4. Within this menu, find “Viewer Rewards” and then select “Power-ups & Channel Points” from the submenu.

5. You’ll now see the Channel Points management page where you can begin customising your points system.

If you decide that Channel Points aren’t right for your channel, you can disable the feature entirely by toggling off the “Enable Channel Points” option on this page.

Personalising Your Channel Points

Making your Channel Points feel like an integrated part of your brand is essential for community buy-in. Here’s how to personalise your points system:

Naming Your Points

The default name “Channel Points” is functional but generic. Consider renaming your points to reflect your channel’s theme, personality, or community inside jokes. For example, a cooking streamer might call them “Flavor Points,” while a gaming streamer focused on space games might name them “Cosmic Credits.”

To change the name:

1. On the Channel Points management page, locate the “Customize” section
2. Find the field labelled “Channel Points Name”
3. Enter your preferred name and save your changes

Creating a Custom Icon

The visual representation of your points reinforces your channel’s identity. Rather than using the default icon, create something that resonates with your community:

1. In the same “Customize” section, find the “Channel Points Icon” option
2. Click the upload button to select a custom image from your computer
3. For best results, use a simple, recognisable design that works at small sizes
4. After uploading, the new icon will appear at the bottom of your chat window where points are displayed

Managing Channel Point Rewards

The real power of Channel Points lies in the rewards you offer. Twitch provides two categories of rewards: Default Rewards and Custom Rewards.

Default Rewards

These pre-configured rewards are automatically fulfilled by Twitch without requiring any action from you as the streamer. They include options such as:

• Highlighting messages in chat
• Unlocking emotes for a limited time
• Modifying emotes with special effects
• Send a Message in Sub-Only Mode

While you cannot change the fundamental functionality of these rewards, you can personalise their appearance:

1. Navigate to the “Manage Rewards” section under Channel Points in your Creator Dashboard
2. Find the default reward you wish to customise
3. Click on it to access the editing interface
4. Upload a custom reward icon that matches your channel’s aesthetic
5. Adjust the background colour of the reward panel to complement your branding
6. Save your changes to update how the reward appears in the redemption menu

Custom Rewards

Custom rewards represent the most flexible and creative aspect of the Channel Points system. These are rewards that you conceptualise and fulfil yourself based on your community’s interests and your stream’s content.

To create a new custom reward:

1. Go to the “Manage Rewards” section under Channel Points
2. Click “Add New Custom Reward”
3. Complete the following essential fields:
   • Title: Create a clear, descriptive name for your reward
   • Cost: Set an appropriate point value based on the reward’s value and exclusivity
   • Description: Explain exactly what viewers will receive and how you’ll fulfil it
   • Background Colour: Choose a colour that will help this reward stand out
   • Icon: Upload a custom image representing the reward

Advanced Custom Reward Options

For more sophisticated reward management, Twitch offers several advanced options:

Additional Input Field If you need information from the redeemer to fulfil their reward (such as their game username or song request), enable the option that requires them to enter text. Remember that this information will appear in chat, so avoid requesting sensitive personal details.

Redemption Limits To prevent rewards from overwhelming your stream, you can set various limitations:

• Cooldown periods between redemptions (ranging from 1 minute to 7 days)
• Maximum redemptions per stream
• Limits on how many times each user can redeem the reward

These limits can be used individually or in combination, giving you precise control over reward availability.

Managing Reward Redemptions

When viewers redeem custom rewards, you’ll need a system for tracking and fulfilling these requests:

1. All redemptions appear in your Activity Feed on the Live Dashboard
2. For easier management, click the pop-out icon to access your dedicated rewards queue
3. From this queue, you can:
   • Mark requests as Complete once fulfilled
   • Reject requests (which automatically refunds the viewer’s points)
   • Pause requests

Creative Reward Ideas for Your Channel

The most successful Channel Point systems offer rewards that feel meaningful and connect to your content. Here are some ideas to inspire your custom rewards:

• Content Influence: Let viewers choose your next game, character, strategy, or challenge
• Stream Integration: Allow point redemption for polls, prediction entries, or raid target suggestions
• Social Recognition: Offer shoutouts, dedicated thank-you moments, or featured viewer spotlights
• Personalisation: Enable viewers to temporarily change your screen overlays, sound effects, or emotes
• Community Interaction: Create rewards for joining your game, voice chat access, or Discord privileges

When designing rewards, consider both what your community values and what you can consistently deliver. The best rewards enhance your stream rather than interrupting or detracting from your content.

Building a Balanced Points Economy

For Channel Points to remain engaging over time, you’ll need to balance how quickly points can be earned against the cost of desirable rewards. Here are some principles for creating a healthy points economy:

• Offer rewards at various price points so both new and long-term viewers can participate
• Consider the time investment required to earn enough points for premium rewards
• Regularly review and adjust prices based on redemption patterns
• Create limited-time or special occasion rewards to keep the system fresh
• Use redemption limits to prevent overuse of impactful rewards

By thoughtfully designing your Channel Points system, you create another layer of entertainment and connection with your community. This feature transforms passive viewers into active participants who feel genuinely valued for their ongoing support of your channel.

Remember that Channel Points represent just the beginning of viewer-reward integration on Twitch, with the platform continually evolving this system to enhance streamer-viewer interactions and community building.